written for the sake of covering so much paper. Of
course she wanted Macgregor to be interested in his work, but not
to the exclusion of herself. She allowed the thing to rankle for
three days. Then, as there was no further word from him, she
became a little alarmed. But it was not in her to write all she
felt, and so she sought to break the tension with something in the
way of a joke.

Thus it came about that on the fifth morning, Macgregor received a
postcard depicting a light-house on a rocky coast and bearing a few
written words, also an oddly shaped parcel. The written words
were:--

'Delighted to hear you are doing so well at the shooting. Sending
prize by same post.

This was better!--more like Christina herself. All was not lost!
Eagerly he tore off the numerous wrappings and disclosed
a--cocoa-nut! In his present state of mind he would have preferred
an infernal machine. A cocoa-nut! She was just laughing at him!
He was about to conceal the nut when Willie appeared.

'My! ye're the lucky deevil, Macgreegor! Frae yer uncle, I
suppose. I'll help ye to crack it. I'll toss ye for the milk--if
there's ony.'

'I'm no gaun to crack it the noo, Wullie,' Macgregor said,
restraining himself.

'At nicht--eh?'

'I'll see.'

By evening, however, Willie was not thinking of cocoa-nuts or,
indeed, of anything in the nature of eatables. His first
experience in firing a rifle had taken place that afternoon and had
left him with an aching jaw and a highly swollen face. On the
morrow he was not much better.

'I'll no be able to use ma late pass the nicht,' he said bitterly.

'I'm no carin' whether I use mines or no,' Macgregor remarked from
the depths of his dejection.

Willie gave him a grostesque wink, and observed: 'I believe ye're
feart to gang into Glesca noo. Oh, they weemen!'

'If ye hadna a face for pies already, I wud gi'e ye yin!'

'Ah, but ye daurna strike a man that's been wounded in his
country's service. Aw, gor, I wisht I had never enlisted! What
country's worth a mug like this? . . . Which girl are ye maist
feart for, Macgreegor?'

Macgregor fled from the tormentor. He had not intended to use his
late pass, but Willie's taunt had altered everything. Afraid? He
would soon show Willie! Also he would show Maggie! Likewise he
would show--Well, Christina had no business to behave as if she
were the only girl in the world, as if he were a fool. He had a
right to enjoy himsel